Stereoselective access to fluorinated and non-fluorinated quaternary piperidines: synthesis of pipecolic acid and iminosugar derivatives.

The preparation of optically pure quaternary piperidines, both fluorinated and non-fluorinated, has been achieved from a chiral imino lactone derived from (R)-phenylglycinol. In the case of the fluorinated derivatives, the addition of (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (TMSCF(3)) followed by iodoamination and migration of the CF(3) group allowed access to four derivatives of α-(trifluoromethyl)pipecolic acid. A theoretical study of the CF(3)-group rearrangement has been carried out to help establish the reaction mechanism of this uncommon transformation. Moreover, a route to trifluoromethyl-substituted iminosugars was also developed through the diastereoselective dihydroxylation of suitable synthetic intermediates. Conversely, alkylation of the starting substrate and subsequent cross-metathesis and aza-Michael reactions led to α-alkyl derivatives of the target compounds.

New fluorinated peptidomimetics through tandem aza-michael addition to alpha-trifluoromethyl acrylamide acceptors: synthesis and conformational study in solid state and solution.

A range of partially modified retro (PMR) psi[NHCH(2)] peptide mimetics containing a hydrolytically stable CH(2)CH(CF(3))CO unit have been synthesized. The first kind of peptidomimetics is obtained from the highly efficient aza-Michael addition of different amines to alpha-trifluoromethyl acrylamide acceptors. Subsequent deprotection of the amino group furnishes the key common intermediate for the synthesis of other families of peptidomimetics: dipeptides, tripeptides, peptidomimetics containing a urea moiety, and structures containing two units of alpha-trifluoromethyl-beta(2)-alanine. Finally, a conformational study of several of the newly synthesized peptidomimetics, performed with the aid of X-ray analysis and NMR techniques, shows a beta-turn-like conformation for the structures both in the solid state and in solution.

The role of fluorine in the stereoselective tandem aza-Michael addition to acrylamide acceptors: an experimental and theoretical mechanistic study.

Aza-Michael additions of alpha-amino esters to fluorinated acceptors take place in a highly stereoselective manner, to give partially modified Psi[NHCH2]retropeptides incorporating a hydrolytically stable trifluoroalanine mimic. The reaction mechanism has been investigated experimentally and theoretically, in order to explain the effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the reactivity and the origins of the experimentally observed stereocontrol. The reaction is a two-step process, involving a tandem aza-Michael addition followed by a stereoselective hydrogen transfer. Both steps are base-catalyzed. The high level of stereocontrol is the result of a combination of electrostatic interactions and steric effects.

Fluorous (trimethylsilyl)ethanol: a new reagent for carboxylic acid tagging and protection in peptide synthesis.

Starting with a fluorous analogue of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethanol, we have designed an easy method for preparing a new fluorous tag ((F)TMSE) for the protection of carboxylic acids. Because mild conditions are employed in the tag cleavage (TBAF in the presence of 4 A molecular sieves, which prevent racemization), this tag can be advantageously used in the synthesis of peptides and modified peptides, as we have demonstrated with several examples, including the fluorous synthesis of short alpha- and beta-peptides as well as of modified fluorinated retropeptides.